The strength of Coventry City's mini-revival, which has seen the team rise to within a point of the top six, will be tested when they play away to Preston North End tonight.

The 1-0 victory away to Queens Park Rangers three days ago gave cause for optimism among players, who had previously existed under a black cloud. But, while a draw against Preston would be a good result, the configuration of the Championship table is such that Coventry could move above West Bromwich Albion if they win.

The problem is that Preston are level on points and goal difference with Cardiff City, the league leaders, and have been tipped for automatic promotion to the Premiership.

Still, Preston failed to defeat Crystal Palace at the weekend — a clear case of two points dropped — and have, like Cardiff and Birmingham City, dropped 20 points already this season.

Coventry should take note of that. It helps that they are now keeping clean sheets. Andy Marshall, the Coventry goalkeeper, cut a happy figure in London on Saturday evening after the victory against Rangers. He says that the clean sheet, as much as the result, has given the squad a confidence that was previously missing.

"Every time we win a game and especially when we keep a clean sheet, it's great encouragement for the whole team," he said. "We are only a couple of points off the play-offs now and we've got some good games coming up, so it's really good for the fans."

Preston have not lost at home this season and are likely to be formidable opposition.

"It's going to be a really hard game," Marshall said. "Crystal Palace got a good result there by getting a goalless draw and they are flying well and doing ever so well.

"They are a strong powerful unit and they're very good going forward so with our guys at the back, it should be an interesting game. We went on a bad run for three games and if we can go on a bit of a run now, who knows where it can put us."

And just as it looks as though Coventry have found their way this season, they were forced to make their own way to Loftus Road on Saturday when their team coach became caught in a traffic jam. The squad ended up travelling to the stadium on the London underground.

"I used to live just on the edge of London so I knew the Tube quite well anyway but it was an interesting moment," he said. "We were like lemmings."